6 Comments
User's avatar
Megumi Koiwai's avatar

ahh fifty sounds has been on my desk for ages to read next! I just read Hunchback in Japanese but I also was sent the English one recently and very eager to read. (also translated by the one and only PB x)

Expand full comment
Mike Fu's avatar

Need to read Hunchback so badly!!

Expand full comment
Olivia's avatar

Thank you for sharing! I loved “Fifty Sounds” so much.

The last fiction in translation novel that blew my mind is “Brothers” by Yu Hua. It made me laugh and cry at the same time—I was very impressed by Eileen Cheng-yin Chow and Carlos Rojas literary translation skills.

I've been wanting to read more of Yoko Tawada's translation-related work. Maybe that would be interesting for your research :)

Expand full comment
Mike Fu's avatar

Thanks Olivia! Both Yu and Tawada are on my insurmountable to-read list. 😇 Someday, someday…

Expand full comment
Alex Dwyer's avatar

Eagerly anticipating what Koen Book Club chooses next (now that I know about it).

After finishing your book (which, unexpectedly had a few mentions of Kamakura) I’ve gone back to fully esoteric Kamakura reading mode with “Yoshitsune: A Fifteenth Century Japanese Chronicle” translated by Helen Craig McCullough.

If I’ve learned anything about book recommending, it’s that just because I find it interesting, doesn’t mean anyone else will 🤣- that being said, I intuitively am trusting yours - the Fifty Sounds rec sounds right up my alley. Maybe there’s even a Kamakura aside somewhere 👀

Expand full comment
Mike Fu's avatar

I think you'll dig Polly's book! But totally know what you mean. Not every book is for every reader. It's such a joy when you find something you really vibe with, though.

Expand full comment